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RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 390,734. Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

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H.'K. WHITNER.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 390,734. Patented Oct. 9,1888.

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HIRAM K. WHITNER, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY- SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,734, dated @etober 9, 1888.

Application filed April 16, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IIIRAM K. Wnrrnnu, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe the railway-switchembodying my improvement in detail, and then point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l. is a plan or top view of a railway-switch embodying my improvement and shown as applied to a railway. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the operation of the switch-operating device when the same is required to yield. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the switch-operating device in a position when it is required to yield. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of certain parts of the switch-operating device, taken on the plane of the line a: m, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 isaview, on an enlarged scale, of the switch-operating mechanism. Fig. 6* is a side view-0f the same, partly in section. Fig. 7 is a plan or top view illustrating a modification of certain parts of my improvement. Figs. 5, 6, 6*, and '7 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I have illustrated my improvement as ap plied to a point-switch in connection with a railwayof ordinaryconstruction. Theswitehpoints a a are connected together bya switchrod, a". This switch rod extends for a dis tance beyond the side of the track. vided with a pin or projection, A, which pin or projection extends into a slot, A, formed in a motion-plate, B. The slot A has two straight end portions and an intermediate portion extending at an angle to the direction of the straight end portions. Extending from the motion-plate B and pivotally connected thereto is an operating-rod, b, which rod,when moved lengthwise, will cause a longitudinal movement -to be imparted to the motionplate B.

The mechanism thus far described does not broadly constitute part of my invention.

It is not an infrequent occurrence for trains It is pro-- Serial No. 270,737. (No model.)

to trail through a closed switch in disregard of the switch-target. The switch-points being held rigidly in position, either the switch operating mechanism or some part thereof is broken, or there is a derailment of the train. Myimprovement is for the purpose of obviating these difficulties.

The motion-plate B is adapted to be moved to and fro in guidewa-ys 0, formed in guides C C. These guides O G in the example of my improvement shown have each a yielding section or gate, (1, and a rigid section, d. In the sections (1 d are formed the guideways c, in whichthe motion-plate B is moved to and fro. The guides O O are separated from each other, and are each secured toa plate, 0, which latter is secured to the railroad-ties. The yielding sections dare pivoted at their outer ends, so that they may be swung on their pivots.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the switch thrown to admit of a train coming in from a track, E, onto a main track, F, and in Fig. 2 I have shown the switch thrown to admit ofa train coming in from a track, E, onto the main track. If, when the switch occupied the position shown in Fig. 2, a train should attempt to come in from a track, E, onto the main track, and there was no provision for the yielding of the switch-point in contact with the rail, the flanges of the car-wheels,entering between the switch-point and the rail, would cause a rupture of the switch-operating mechanism or a possible derailment. If, on the other hand,the switch-points occupied theposition shown in Fig. 1 and a train should attempt to enter from the track E, a similar result would ensue. By my improvement, when a train enters from either of thetracks E Ein the manner described, the switch being then upon the wrong side, the switch-point in contact with the rail will yield to the flanges of the wheels, and the train may pass through safely without injury. This result is attained by making the sections d of the guide 0 yieldmg.

I have illustrated in Fig. 3 the result attained by my improvement. It will be seen that the yielding section at upon the portion 0 of the guide has been swung outwardly upon its pivot, whereby a movement of the switch-rod is permitted, and consequently the switch points are allowed to move into the necessary position to admit of thesafe passage of the train. In Fig. l- I have similarly illustra-ted the section d upon the portion 0 of the guide as having been swung upon its pivot.

In order to return the yielding sections (1 to their normal position so soon as a train has passed, I provide in the example of my improvementshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4t, 5, G, and 6* a coil-spring, G. This coil-spring is arranged about a rod, {1, which rod is secured near its ends in angle-plates l. The springG and its appurtenances extend atan anglebetween two of the railroad-ties, the angle-plates G being secured one to each of said ties.

G designates abutments for the spring G. These abutments are provided near one of their ends with eyes through which extend the rod 9. The ends of the spring G abut against the eyes g. From the eyes g extend portions 9" at approximate right angles to the eyes 9 and approximately parallel with the spring G. The portions 9'' extend upon opposite sides of the spring G and in reverse di rections to each other, and rest on a support, l. At the free ends of the portions 9 are upwardly-extending portions or projections 5 These projecting portions bear against the yielding sections d of the guides upon the outside of and near the inner ends of the latter.

It will be readily seen that when either of the yielding sections (1 is caused to be swung upon its pivot, when the cause which operated to thus swing it has been removed, the spring G will operate to return such yielding section to its normal position.

In the example of my improvement shown in Fig. 7, instead of employing the arrangement just described for causing the return of the yielding sections to their normal position I employ two springs (If hen arranged to act in conjunction with each of the yielding sections, the inner end of each of these springs is held in position against the yielding sec tion by a nipple, g, upon the outside of each of the yielding sections, which nipple extends into the open end of the spring. The other end of the spring abuts against and is secured to a plate, which latter is in turn secured to the adjacent railroad-tie. In either event I prefer to employ the nipple g, as, in the example of my improvement first described, they afford a top for preventing lateral displace ment of the projectionsyon the portions y of the abutments for the spring G.

The inner and adjacent ends of the sections (Z d of the guide for the motion-plate are provided with tongues f. These tongues are at suificient distances apart to admit of the swinging of the sections (1 without said tongues being broughtin contact. The tongues operate as guides for the switch-rod, the latter being, as here shown, divided, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The divided portion of the switchrod comprises two rods, j", which rods are socured to the switchrod, one upon the upper s1de of the switch-rod and the other upon the lower side thereof, whereby a space is formed between the rodsf, which results in producing a bifurcated end portion to the switch-rod. The bifurcations of the rod extend about the tonguesf on the sections (Z d, and also about the motionplate I3. The pin A extends between the bifurcated portionsf of the switchrod and through the slot A in the motionplate. WVhen the motionplate is moved longitudinally in this guide, the pin A 1s caused to follow the slot A, and thus to shift the switch-points while the tongues f on the sections (1 d operate to form guidcways upon each side of said tongues, which prevents lateral displacements of the switclrrod.

The bifurcated,portions of the switch-rod beyond or upon the outer side of the guide for the motion-plate are reunited to another rod, 9, which rod extends to and is caused to operate a target of ordinary construction, which is not shown in the drawings.

It will be seen that no yielding of the sections cl (1 of the motion-plate guide can occur until the motion'plate has been moved far enough in either direction to bring it clear of the tongues f, for, solong as the 1notion-plate is in engagement with the guideways upon both of the sections d (1, there is a look which provents any yielding of the yielding sections dd. It is therefore clear that there can be no yielding of such sections during the operation of shifting the switch-points. This is advantageous, because it provides a means for detecting any obstruction which may be located between the moving switch-points and the rails; for, as the motion-plate is held against sidewise movement while being operated to shift the switch-points, the operator of the motion-plate will. find himself unable to effectively shift the switch-points, and will thercfore. know that an obstruction exists.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 1-, and 7, it will be seen that the heels 71. upon the diagonallyopposite ends of the motion-plate remain within the guideways during the sidewise movement of the 1notion-plate. There can therefore be no disengagement of the motion-plate from its guideways, and the motion-platewill always be returned properly to its normal position after having been moved out.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a switch-operating device, the eombination, with a switclrrod, of a slotted motionplate engaging the said switch-rod, a guide for the n1otion-plate having a rigid and a yielding section, and a device for returning said yielding section to its normal position after-having been moved out of the same, substantially as specified.

2. In a switclroperatiug mechanism, the combination, with a switeh-rod, of a slotted motion-plate engaging said switch-rod,a guide for the motion-plate havinga rigid and a yielding section on each side thereof, a rigid sec-- tion being opposite to a yielding section, said yielding sections being provided with a device to return them to a normal position afterhaving been moved from the same, substantially as specified.

3. In a switchoperating' mechanism, the combination,with a switch-rod having a bifurcated portion, of a slotted motion-plate, about which said bifurcated portion of the switchrod extends, a pin extending from the switchrod and entering the slot in the motion-plate, a guide for the motion-plate having upon one side a yielding section, and a device for returning said yielding section to a normal position after it has been moved out of the same, substantially as specified.

4. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination, with a switch-rod having a biyielding sections of the guide,about which the iurcated portion, of aslotted motion-plate, about which said bifurcated portion of the switch-rod extends, a pin extending from the switch rod and entering said slot in the mo tion-plate, a guide for the motion-plate comprising two fixed sections and two yielding sections, a tongue on the fixed sections and It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 390,734, granted October 9, 1888, upon the application of Hiram K. Whitner, of New York, New York, for an improvement in Railway-Switches, an error appears in the printed specification requiring the following correction: In line 53, page 2, the word top shouldvbe stricken out and the word stop inserted instead; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 16th day of October, A. D. 1888.

D, L. HAY/VKINS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL] Oonntersigned:

BENTON JQHALL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

